Can You Use Jute Twine For Cooking? What To Use!

Can you use jute twine for cooking? No, jute twine is not safe for cooking because the material it is made from is highly flammable and sheds too many tiny fibers into your food. It will quickly burn and break in the oven.

Cooking twines are very useful in the kitchen. Using cooking twines to bind certain food items such as poultry or meat is not only functional but adds a different aesthetic.

So, it was only a time before people started using a bunch of different types, but not all twines are made equal, and not all are safe to use. 

In this article, we will look at jute twine, its characteristics, and alternative cooking twines that are safer.

Why Use Cooking Twine?

Cooking twine is handy in the kitchen, especially if you cook a lot of meats. The primary function of cooking twine is to bind an object and keep it together during the cooking process

This allows you to create certain dishes and infuse the flavors into each other.

This is mainly applied when cooking whole poultry items like chicken and rolled meats like stuffed pork shoulder or gammon, but can also be used to steam food in parchment bags.

What Is Jute Twine?

Jute twine is twine made from the jute plant. It is made from the same fibers used to make hessian or burlap fabrics.

Jute is made from much more sustainable plants and is environmentally friendly, compostable, and biodegradable. 

It is a beautiful string piece with many different uses, mostly decorative.

Is It Safe to Use for Cooking?

Jute twine, however pretty, should not be used to make food. There are a few reasons you should instead use an alternative twine.

First, if you have ever worked with a burlap sack, you know that fibers come off everywhere – it’s a nightmare.

As jute twine is made from the same material, the same thing will happen, only this time it will get all over your food.

And before you ask, no, there isn’t a way to prevent this or cheat it. Tiny pieces will shave off and go everywhere when the fibers touch each other to bind or make a knot.

The second reason you cannot use jute twine for cooking is that it is highly flammable. Jute fibers are extremely thin and, once exposed to heat in the oven, will burn and break, defeating the purpose of tying an item to hold it together.

Jute twine should be used for decoration purposes only on the table.

The Best Cooking Twine

Although you cannot use jute twine, there are a bunch of other strings that can be used for cooking. The best of them is butcher’s twine as well as cotton twine. These are both traditionally used for cooking.

Butcher’s twine is a broad name for twine that includes those made from cotton and linen, both very sustainable materials. 

This is the ultimate type of twine for trussing poultry, tying roasts, and securing stuffed ingredients. These are only a drop in the ocean of what this twine can be used for.

The twine itself comes in various thicknesses and is very food-safe. It doesn’t give off fibers like jute twine and is much more heat resistant. You can leave this string in the oven for hours before it breaks.

If you’re looking for a good twine in the kitchen, we like this cotton twine from the trusted cooking brand Norpro.

Other Questions Asked

What Types of Twine Should Be Avoided?

A brief list of twines that shouldn’t be used for cooking includes hemp, jute, synthetic, and polypropylene twine.

Decorative twines should also not be used, as they sometimes contain dangerous chemicals and colorants that you do not want on your food. This includes the pretty striped baker’s twine.

Is Nylon Twine Safe for Cooking?

Nylon is a synthetic material and is not safe to cook with. The only nylon exception would be some dental flosses.

However, sticking with the tried-and-true cooking twines is best to avoid toxins in your food and even kitchen fires.

Can You Use Dental Floss as a Cooking Twine?

This might seem very strange, but if you are in a pinch, you can use dental floss for cooking twine.

Dental floss only contains ingredients or coatings that are safe to consume because it is a product for your mouth.

However, it is essential to remember to use unflavoured dental floss, as minty waxed dental floss will give off its flavor in your food.

It is a convenient and sturdy piece of string that can tie up meat and even help layer a domed cake.

Norah Clark

Norah Clark

Norah Clark, the founder and editor of YummyTasteFood! She's a seasoned food writer and editor with over a decade of experience in the hospitality industry as a former pastry chef, sous chef, and barista. When not writing about food, she explores new recipes or travels the world for culinary inspiration.